Her students have called her a friend for life. An inspirational person who only saw the good in any situation. They talk about how she could light up a room with the amount of knowledge she had. Even though she taught in elementary school, her students have said she inspired them to become teachers when they got older.

I remember every bit of the injury. I was completely conscious, completely with it, so every single thing that happened, I remember like it was yesterday. It was eight weeks into my freshman year at Luther College. I remember wanting to kick off in the third quarter. I wanted to make a play. It was just a freak accident: When I dove across to make a tackle, the ball carrier’s knee struck my neck, and I just was lying there.